‘Blue wave’ anticipated for midterm elections
The November midterm elections will see voters coming out to decide hundreds of federal, state, and county level positions. Across the nation, Democrat officials are predicting a “Blue Wave” of heavy turnout supporting their candidates.
This election is historically a referendum on the president. There is a strong relationship between presidential approval nationwide and midterm outcomes. According to a recent Reuters poll, 38% of voters approve of Donald Trump’s performance while 60% disapprove.
This year, there is only a narrow path for Democrats to retake control of the Senate. But recent polling shows a strong chance to capture the House of Representatives.
This commentary will focus on the political landscape in Pennsylvania and in Washington County. According to Politico, “Few places epitomize Democrats’ recent challenges — and hopes for 2026 — as well as Pennsylvania. Trump flipped the state back in 2024. Democrats lost a Senate seat and every statewide row office — and failed to make inroads in the state legislature.”
However, commonwealth Democrats were encouraged by the results of the 2025 election. Spotlight PA reported, “In November, the party retained three state Supreme Court justices by more than 20 points. Down ballot, gains were made in Republican Bucks County, where the first district attorney running as a Democrat was elected since the 19th century. In Erie County, a Democratic unseated the Republican incumbent county executive by a margin of 25 points.”
Spotlight interviewed an encouraged Democratic State Party Chair Eugene DePasquale. “We are focused on bread-and-butter economic issues. People are struggling in their daily lives. The Trump administration is just throwing more gas on the fire.”
Pennsylvania Republican leaders argue that the real affordability crisis in America takes place in Democratic strongholds like New York, Illinois, and California. These states have higher taxes and housing costs. Republican officials claim that only by electing their candidates can Pennsylvania avoid higher expenses.
Statewide, the real issue for Republicans in these mid-term elections is getting their supporters to the polls. When Trump is not on the ballot, participation by casual voters who support him often disappears. For the upcoming election, the momentum lies with Democrats.
In Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, with presidential aspirations, is running against Republican State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, a strong ally of Trump. While Garrity, a combat veteran and business leader, has won state elections, she is not expected to unseat Shapiro. In early polling, Shapiro is running 15 to 17 percentage points ahead of his rival.
For years, in Washington County and across the country, there has been an alarming lack of knowledge regarding local politics compared to national campaigns. Much of the voting public does not get energized by local news. Typically, unless there is a catalyst (like attempts to bring a data center to South Strabane Township), social media is not engaged with local politics.
Local Democratic leaders hope that this year will be different, even though no county offices are on the ballot. They believe that the widespread dissatisfaction with the president and his anti-democratic policies will produce an increased interest in Democrat candidates who represent Washington County.
Our Republican Congressman, Guy Reschenthaler, is running for a fifth term. He is a strong supporter of Trump and has worked his way up the national party leadership to chief deputy whip in the House.
Reschenthaler has come under repeated criticism for spending most of his time in Washington, D.C., and being a “no-show” in the district. He does not hold in-person town hall meetings for his constituents.
The Democratic candidate to oppose Reschenthaler in the 14th District is a new face, Alan Bradstock. A native of Donora and a graduate of Ringgold High School, Bradstock went on to graduate from Washington & Jefferson College with high honors. He served in the U.S. Army as a helicopter pilot, and following his military career worked for the FBI. More recently, Bradstock worked as an auditor for the large financial adviser, KPMG.
Bradstock has proven to be the ideal hard-working, well-qualified, moderate candidate needed to unseat Reschenthaler. However, political observers point out his uphill battle in our heavily Republican 14th District. Reschenthaler defeated Chris Dziados by more than 30 points in 2024.
There is no announced Democrat to oppose state Sen. Camera Bartolotta in the 46th Senate District. To date, the only political kerfuffle has been between the local and state Republican parties.
In January, the Washington County Republican Party executive committee issued a 21-3 vote of no confidence for Bartolotta. The local party was upset with her marriage to the former state Democratic Speaker of the House, Bill DeWeese. They also disagreed with her support for Haitian immigrants in Charleroi.
The state Republican Party supports Bartolotta and declared the local vote null and void. Local Republicans rejected the state decision. Bartolotta will face a primary challenge from Al Buchta, who lives in Canonsburg. Neutral observers of this Republican dog fight believe Bartolotta’s position in the primary is secure.
This race will not affect party control of the Pennsylvania Senate. However, it highlights the fractured Republican party on issues like aggressive immigration crackdowns, economic policy, and support for all things Trump.
While Democrats are hopeful for large gains in the midterms, they must keep a close eye on Trump’s plan to nationalize elections. On Feb. 3, nine months from the midterms, the president announced, “We should take over the voting in at least 15 places.”
Gary Stout is a Washington attorney.